These are my abuelos whom I so well remember although it was many years later before I could truly appreciate who they were.

Antonio was born 1864 and Jesusa in 1884. They were married in 1902 and raised a family of nine children. As you see, there was 20 years difference in their ages and they each lived a very long and healthy life. They died within one month of each other which is, as I see it now, not surprising. After 60 years of marriage, one could not live without the other and whoever went first we knew the other would immediately follow.

Both Antonio and Jesusa were born in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. My husband and I visited Alamos a few years ago and found it a most interesting and happy city. Alamos is a National Monument of Mexico. We met many wonderful people and even visited each home where Antonio and Jesusa were born. The city is very old and the people are poor however at one time it was booming. Many of my relatives were in mining and made tons of money. The beautiful Catholic Church, La Purisima Concepcion, was built in 1687 and it was here my abuelos were married and where the children were baptized. I was able to get some records of the family from the Church but not as many as I had wanted.

After they married, they lived in the home of Antonio. He gave his two sisters half of the home and they each lived there until they passed away. Theodorsia was a Profesoria de Musica and very well known throughout Mexico. It was from her, I'm sure, where I inherited my music skills.

As a child of only 4, I was introduced to music and as I grew a little older and when we visited our grandparents, my grandfather insisted I play for him the moment we walked in the door. I played the music of his choice. Antonio loved classical music and adored the opera. There were times he would sing along or even play for me. I'm sure I didn't do as good as Tocha but he made me play. The home was silent during these sessions and though I preferred to go out to play with my cousins, I could not leave. It wasn't until many years later that I became more proficient, appreciated what my grandfather had done and played in several concerts.

During an uprising in Mexico about the year 1910, the family had to leave Alamos. They relocated in Los Angeles, California where 3 more sons were born to make a total of 9 children; 2 girls and 7 boys. Later Antonio worked at a shipyard in San Pedro building ships.

In 1919 young Ygnacio was born and he was the first tragedy of the family. Some of the family had gone back to Mexico for a visit and Ygnacio fell prey to the water. He died at the age of about 11 of typhoid fever. .

This is a picture of Antonio and Jesusa celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Los Angeles, California

Another tragedy occurred not long after Ygnacio and that was of Maria de la Luz Oviedo. Luz married Samuel Gamez in 1927 and they had two lovely daughters, Alva and Ana Marie. One day Luz found her husband with another woman which was just to much for her to live with and in 1933, she died of a broken heart. Of course, this was a family story. I'm sure her death was something different. After Luz died, Antonio and Jesusa brought the girls to Los Angeles then adopted and raised them to maturity.

When the depression of the 1930s occurred, the family was devastated. Don Antonio could not work but being proud and independent, did what he had to for his family refusing handouts. Jesusa was a seamstress making a little money and the older boys did odd jobs. With everyone pulling together, they all survived.

There was a strong tie in the family. Love, happiness and obedience. Don Antonio was very strict, demanded perfection and we were all expected to proudly maintain our heritage. We spoke only when spoken to and there was never a word of English allowed in his home.

Our grandmother, Dona Maria de Jesus Delfina Almada, was also very proud of her heritage and no matter how or what we would complain to her about the few scoldings we'd get from Don Antonio, she would merely smile and say to do as we were told. Never giving in or allowing us to deviate from what we were told to do.

We celebrated every family birthday, anniversary and holiday together. If we were not with the Oviedo family we would be with the Manriquez family. We would have a pinata filled with a little candy and a few pennies. There would be a big meal followed by a cake and a little ice cream. We'd play pin the tale on the donkey or climb a tree. We made our own fun and just enjoyed the companionship of our family. If there was a sickness, everyone would pray for their wellness. We also went to Church together and Christmas as the best day of all. Mind you, the family was very poor so gifts were limited, if any. Some of the youngsters on the block would get a bike or train but none of us ever gave a second thought of their fortune. We were always satisfied with a good meal or a small handmade doll or what ever meager gift given to us. That was the life as we knew it and it was always accepted.

The family took the red car (that's a street car or train, if you're too young to know!) to a local beach and have the most fun of anyone. Or the family would go to Griffith Park for a picnic. Many of us would climb the "big" mountain and once at the top everyone would engrave our initials on the water tank. We played baseball, volley ball or on occasion ride a pony.

My father was Jose Marcelo Oviedo. He married Francesca Celia Manriquez in 1930, Los Angeles, CA. My brother Joseph Anthony Ernest was born in 1931 and died in 2011, my sister Maria de la Luz was born in 1934, I, Blanca Esther, was born in 1937 and my 'baby' sister, Maria Dolores was born in 1940.

I married Kenneth Eugene Harn in 1954 and we had 3 children: Michael Kenneth born in 1954, Maryann Dolores born in 1960 and died in 1982 and Teresa Marie born in 1961.

La Purisima Concepcion Catholic Church in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. The church was built in 1687